[Outpatient neurological services. A descriptive analysis of a consultation clinic in Baix Llobregat].
BACKGROUND
Attention to the public, outside the hospital, in the specialty of neurology has recently been separated from psychiatry.


OBJECTIVE
We have evaluated the functioning of a neurology outpatient clinic from the point of view of the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects and the demand for such attention.


METHODS
The region studied was the Baix Llobregat Nord, in the province of Barcelona. The total population is 174,429 inhabitants. The sample was of 592 patients who requested a first consultation between June and December 1996.


RESULTS
There was a predominance of women (57.7%). The average age was 45.1. The general practitioner referred 86.3% of the patients. Complementary tests were requested in 51% of the patients. CT was the investigation most commonly requested (18.5%), followed by the EEG (12.3%). Considering the diagnostic groups: headache made up 31.4%, followed by vertigos, psychiatric disorders, cerebral vascular pathology, epilepsy and dementia. Treatment was given to 41% of the patients (247). The commonest drugs used were calcium antagonists (26%), analgesics (16.4%), tranquillizers, and muscle relaxants (11.1%), anti-depressives (9.9%), platelet antiaggregants (9.9%). There was 86.6% correct derivation and 75% concordance with the derivant.


CONCLUSIONS
The average demand per 100 inhabitants per year was 7.6 with significant differences depending on the organization of the area health services. The considerable number of patients with psychiatric pathology (9.4%) was noticeable. Better selection of the patients referred to the neurologist would enable the quality of care available to be improved.
Batalla
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DAP Baix Llobregat Nord, Servei de Neurologia, Barcelonès, España.
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006296:Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006298:Health Services Administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009462:Neurology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain
Neurología extrahospitalaria. Análisis descriptivo de una consulta en el Baix Llobregat.